Brain Tumour Research

05/11/2026

Have you got your Christmas cards yet? 💛

Take a look at these beautiful new designs available from the Brain Tumour Research shop!

Every pack purchased helps support vital research into brain tumours. Make your Christmas cards count this year and help us get closer to a cure.

Shop our collection today: https://bit.ly/3KWVYc0 🎄

04/11/2026

What inspires someone to take on their first ever marathon? 💛

For Alana McKenna, it was her mum, Annalisa. Annalisa, a teaching assistant and yoga teacher from Bedfordshire, was diagnosed with a Grade 4 glioblastoma in March 2025 after suffering a seizure out of the blue.

Since then, she has faced brain surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy, and is now taking part in a clinical trial. Throughout it all, she has shown incredible resilience and positivity.

Inspired by her mum's strength, Alana took on the York Marathon last month, completing her first ever 26.2 miles and raising a fantastic £1,854.60 for Brain Tumour Research.

A huge thank you to Alana for turning her love for her mum into such an incredible fundraising achievement.

Read Annalisa’s story: https://bit.ly/4z0ySV9

03/11/2026

A brain tumour diagnosis changed everything for dad-of-three Ross Welsh. Now, he's turning his experience into a force for change. 💛

Ross, 40, was diagnosed with a grade 2 glioma in July after suffering a seizure while asleep. He underwent surgery in August to remove the 2.5cm tumour, but was told some cells remained and could grow in the future.

He's recently started a new targeted treatment, vorasidenib, which became available on the NHS for eligible patients with certain types of low-grade glioma earlier this year.

Now, Ross is taking on 99 Miles in November to help fund the research needed to discover and develop new treatments.

He said: “My life as a husband, dad and qualified financial advisor changed in an instant with my diagnosis. Now I'm supporting a cause that is close to my heart.”

There’s still time to join Ross and take on 99 Miles in November! Whether you’re just getting started or need to catch up on a few miles, you can walk, run, cycle, swim or choose another activity to reach your 99-mile target.

Aim for 3.3 miles a day, or spread your miles across the month in a way that works for you. Every mile covered and every pound raised helps fund vital research and campaigning to find a cure for brain tumours.

Join the challenge today: https://bit.ly/4mGk3kg

02/11/2026

“It has truly been a labour of love" 💛

Steve Gilmour was a musician, photographer and lifelong Action Man enthusiast. He spent countless hours creating detailed, imaginative scenes featuring the iconic toy.

He died in 2022, aged 45, from a grade 4 gliosarcoma, just two weeks after his wedding. In the year he would have celebrated his 50th birthday, his wife, Hannah, has created a book of his work called “Lights, Camera, Action Man.”

She described the project as a “labour of love”, adding: "I hope this book, with all profits going to Brain Tumour Research, will help raise awareness of brain tumours and the urgent need for better treatments."

Thank you for raising funds for vital research in Steve’s honour and for sharing his art with the world.

To purchase “Lights, Camera, Action Man”, email Toywithit at [email protected] 📖

01/11/2026

Our fantastic supporters fundraise in all kinds of ways, but one of the most unique is an “aerobathon”! 🕺💛

The Flin’s Fitness Charity Aerobathon, an annual fundraiser held by Fran Flin, raised an incredible £5,000 (and counting) for Brain Tumour Research this year in honour of her best friend Emma’s partner, Dave.

He was diagnosed with a stage 4 glioblastoma in 2024 which was removed, but cells have since returned. He is currently on a clinical trial, 5G Emerald for Glioblastomas, which brings hope to him and Emma.

A massive well done to Flin's Fitness with Fran and everyone who took part for supporting long-term and life-saving research, and for helping us get closer to a cure.

You can donate here: https://bit.ly/4sFOa04 🔗

What unique fundraiser could you hold? 🎉 https://bit.ly/4dS3jVQ

31/10/2026

Yesterday, 30th October, marked the anniversary of the memorial for Keith McIvor, internationally known as JD Twitch and one half of Glasgow duo Optimo. 💛

As we remember Keith, we’re sharing his story and the lasting legacy his family, friends and music community are helping to create. Keith spent his life connecting people through music. But after being diagnosed with glioblastoma in June 2025, his health deteriorated rapidly. He died peacefully on 19th September 2025, aged 57, less than six months after his first symptoms.

As his wife, Marissa, says: “The tumour is how he died, not who he was.”

In Keith’s memory, Marissa has chosen to donate £30,000 raised through his crowd funder, thanks to the generosity of family, friends and fans around the world, to establish Keith's Glioblastoma Research Fund, which will support vital research at the Scottish Brain Tumour Research Centre of Excellence.

Her hope is that Keith’s legacy will help other families have what they didn’t: better treatment options, more hope and, ultimately, more time together.

We’re grateful to Marissa and everyone helping turn their love for Keith into support for vital research.

Support the Keith's Glioblastoma Research Fund:
https://bit.ly/48odEWa

Read Keith's Story: https://bit.ly/3Umqy3R

30/10/2026

Isaac was just 20 when he had a seizure at the gym, leading to a diagnosis of glioblastoma.

He underwent surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy, and considered an experimental immunotherapy in Germany.

He then got onto a clinical trial in the UK and his tumour decreased by 40% but he suddenly became unwell and deteriorated - the tumour had spread to his spine, and he was no longer able to travel abroad for further treatment. He died one year ago, on 30th October 2025.

Throughout his illness, Isaac passionately supported Brain Tumour Research - the only UK charity dedicated to finding a cure for all types of brain tumours.

Now his family are launching their fundraising group, Team Isaac Forever, continuing his mission. Incredibly, using the funds raised for experimental immunotherapy which Isaac became too ill to access, the family has donated £186,000 to fund a PhD researcher working on glioblastoma at our Centre of Excellence at the University of Nottingham.

Today, the first anniversary of Isaac’s loss, his sister Harriet has written a heartfelt blog as a tribute to the brother she adored.

Read more: https://bit.ly/4eoZCHB

29/10/2026

Your miles. Your way. Your challenge.

99 miles might sound like a lot - but spread across November, it’s just 3.3 miles a day.
And you don’t have to walk or run it.

🚲 Cycle your commute
🐕 Walk the dog
🏃 Run your favourite route
🏊 Swim a few lengths
🐴 Ride your horse
👟 Or simply get moving wherever you can

Do it alone, with friends, family or colleagues. Break it into small steps or smash out bigger distances when you have the time.

There’s no one way to take on 99 Miles. Choose your challenge. Make your miles count. Sign up today.

https://bit.ly/4mGk3kg

29/10/2026

Celebrating 20 years of hope, progress and impact. 💛

Our CEO, Dan Knowles, was delighted to attend a gala dinner at Burghley House marking the 20th anniversary of our Member Charity, Anna's Hope.

Founded by Rob Hughes and his wife, Carole, following the devastating loss of their daughter, Anna, to an ependymoma brain tumour at just three years and eight months old, Anna’s Hope was born from a promise. Before Anna passed away, Rob and Carole vowed to do everything they could to improve outcomes for children diagnosed with brain tumours and support their rehabilitation. In their grief, they found purpose, and over the past two decades, they have turned that purpose into lasting impact.

Since its inception, Anna’s Hope has raised an incredible £2.24 million, helping to drive progress for children and young people affected by brain tumours. The charity was a founding partner of Brainbow at Addenbrooke’s Hospital, a pioneering specialist neuro-rehabilitation service that has since been adopted by the NHS. Rob and Carole’s vision is to see this model rolled out across the UK, ensuring more families can access the support they need.

Continuing Anna’s extraordinary legacy, Anna’s Hope recently announced funding for a three-year research project at the University of Nottingham, led by Dr Tim Ritzmann and focused on ependymoma.

As Chair of Brain Tumour Research, and previously as a trustee, Rob has also been a steadfast supporter of our campaigning work, joining us at Westminster to call for greater investment in brain tumour research. We continue to campaign for national investment to reach at least £45 million a year, helping to address the historic underfunding of this devastating disease.

One of the most moving moments of the anniversary dinner came during Rob’s speech, when he shared words from the tribute he gave at Anna’s funeral. He spoke lovingly of her passion for music, dancing in her sister’s bedroom, cooking pancakes and Krispie cakes, and caring for her many dolls. Her favourite programme was Peppa Pig, and she was remembered as a little girl full of warmth, character and joy.

We are incredibly grateful to Rob, Carole and everyone at Anna’s Hope for their unwavering support, partnership and determination to change the story for children diagnosed with brain tumours.

Here’s to 20 years of making a difference, honouring Anna’s legacy and changing lives in the years ahead. 💛

29/10/2026

Two in three people with a brain tumour experience at least one seizure.

This report from Epilepsy Research Institute explores the link between brain tumours and epilepsy, shares Dominique’s experience of living with seizures and highlights research working towards better, more personalised treatments.

More research and investment are vital to improving outcomes and helping more people affected by brain tumour-related epilepsy live seizure-free.

Read the full feature: https://bit.ly/4z9LGJE

Did you know that two in three people with a brain tumour experience at least one seizure?

In collaboration with Brain Tumour Research, we explore the link between brain tumours and epilepsy, the research underway to understand why seizures happen, and how new treatments could improve lives.

Read our article to discover how research could help more people live seizure-free: https://epilepsy-institute.org.uk/eri/research/features/how-can-we-stop-people-with-brain-tumours-developing-epilepsy/